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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

First Lieutenant · U.S. Army

Joseph S. Hedges

First Lieutenant Joseph S. Hedges, Army, received the Medal of Honor for actions on December 17, 1864 near Harpeth River, Tennessee during the Civil War.

U.S. Civil War December 17, 1864

Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, First Lieutenant Joseph S. Hedges received the Medal of Honor for his actions on December 17, 1864 near Harpeth River, Tennessee during the Civil War. At the time he was serving with 4th U.S. Cavalry. Hedges was 28 years old.

The medal was presented on April 5, 1898, 33 years after the action. He later rose to the rank of Captain.

Hedges was born on June 12, 1836 in Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio. Hedges died on August 12, 1910 in Mansfield, Ohio, at the age of 74. He is buried at Mansfield Memorial Park in Mansfield, Ohio.

Hedges is one of 1,525 Medal of Honor recipients from the Civil War and one of 256 credited to Ohio.

Official Medal of Honor citation

At the head of his regiment charged a field battery with strong infantry supports, broke the enemy's line, and, with other mounted troops, captured three guns and many prisoners.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Places

  • Born: Mansfield — map
  • Buried: Mansfield Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Ohio →

Timeline

  1. June 12, 1836
    Born in Mansfield, Richland County, Ohio
  2. December 17, 1864
    Act of valor — near Harpeth River, Tennessee
    Age 28. 4th U.S. Cavalry
  3. April 5, 1898
    Medal of Honor presented
  4. August 12, 1910
    Died in Mansfield, Ohio
    Age 74.
  5. Resting place
    Mansfield Memorial Park
    Mansfield, Ohio

Biography

Joseph Snively Hedges (1836 – 1910) was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry as a First Lieutenant in the 4th U.S. Cavalry for action on December 17, 1864 near Harpeth River, Tennessee.

From the Wikipedia article “Joseph Hedges (Medal of Honor)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Same unit

Matthew Arlington Batson First Lieutenant · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 RC Robert Goldthwaite Carter Second Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1871 Hugh Jocelyn McGrath Captain · Army Philippine Insurrection · 1899 ✦ LW Lewis Warrington First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1874 WW Wilber Elliott Wilder First Lieutenant · Army Indian Campaigns · 1882

More Civil War recipients from Ohio

FT Freeman C. Thompson Corporal · Army Civil War · 1865 Manning Ferguson Force Brigadier General · Army Civil War · 1864 JS James (Ovid) Smith Private · Army Civil War · 1862 Elbridge Robinson Private · Army Civil War · 1863 JM John G. Miller Corporal · Army Civil War · 1863 Charles H. McCleary First Lieutenant · Army Civil War · 1864
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.